Reading stand



READING STAND Filed April l2', 1928 Zmventor attorneys.

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE READING STAND Application led April 12, 1928. Serial No. 269,530.

The present invention' relates to improvements in reading stands, and has for an object toprovide astand Vadapted for use by anyone lying down, and especially in connection with beds whereby patients and convalescents may, 4while in a reclining or fully supine position, be enabled to occupy them-- .selves with reading, without eXpending energy in the holding of the book. h

It is another, and very particular object of the invention to provide ya transparent book holder, which mayassume a substantially horizontal position directly over the bed and head of a reader, with the book in open position and supported face downward on the holder whereby the text may be read through such transparent holder.

The invention may also be used as a table for writing Vor typewriting purposes, or

other uses as a table. i Y

Further'objects of the invention are to simplify, andreduce the expense of manufacture of present forms of book stands; to provide a wide range of adjustability in the bookholder; and to provide a light, portable and easily adjusted construction.

vYVVith the' fore-going and otherrobjects in view, the'invention will be more'fully described hereinafter; and will be more particularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto.y Y i n In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts through-- .Y Vout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the iniproved reading stand. shown as applied to the bed indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved 0 reading stand taken on an enlarged scale, and with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a front elevation with the book holder shown in section.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the universal oint connection. Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 4.

' with more or less i Figure 7 is also a vertical section taken on the line 7 7 in Figure 11, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame for the transparent bookholder. Referring `more particularly to the draw` ings 9 designates a table of glass,or other transparent material, which forms the book holder with the framel which `receives and supports the glasssheet. This frame 10 may be of any appropriate form and preferably consists of the four channel strips for, eX- tending over the four edges of the rectangular glass sheet or table 9. In addition, the book holder may also be provided with the device shown in Figure 8 comprising the channel arms 11; cross connecting piece 12 and the book supporting ledge. 13. VThe channel arms 11 may be reinforced by the longitudinal ribs 14C. The arms 11 are received over the frame 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Y A 1 yOne member of the frame 10 4is provided with the stem 15 carrying the'universal ball 16 fitting adjustably `within the partially spherical depressions 17 and 18 near the free ends of the two legs 19 and 20 of the metallic yoke piece, which comprises the legs just referred to and the connecting cross member 21. The yoke may be'made of sheet metal or other appropriate, preferably resilient material. A block or partition wall 22T is insert-ed between the legs 19 and 20 about'midway of the ylength thereof and outwardly beyond such wall are the'screw bolts 23 or other adjusting means by which the free ends of the legs 19l and 2O may be drawn together n pressure upon the universalball'16. f

Y The wall 22 and connectingpiece 21 of -the yoke'member are both :provided withV 'straight-line openings, for instance,'the rectangular openings shown in Figure `7 to receive the ends of the squareor other straight- 'line tube 24.V The universal Vball 16 is, provided with a socket 25 -diametrically opposite-the stem 15. Now this socket is adapted to be received on pin 26,'p'referably `rounded in=cross section to `agree with the simillar cross section of the socket25. The'pin .26 is carriedon the end of-a strai'ghtfline,

or square shank 27 which projects substantially horizontally from the post rod 28, and engages the ball 16, thus forming a rigid joint when an abnormally heavy weight rests on the table 9. The supporting post comprises the rod 28, intermediate sleeve 29 and outer sleeve 30. vA Vset screw 3l is carried by the intermediate sleeve for adjusting the rod 28 longitudinally therein. The intermediate sleeve 29 may be held in its adjusted position in the outer'tube'30 by rictional resistance, or clamped at the desired position by a set screw, not shown. The outer tube 30 is erected on a relatively short cross bar 32 having the spaced feet 33 and 34 to diametrically Vopposite sidesof the post. The cross bar 32 is `provided with the divergent hollow 'leg -members 35 rand 36 extending from-opposite ends of the cross -pieceand receiving .the adjustable leg rods 37 and 38; these may havethe down-turned ends 39 for engaging the floor to support the hollow leg members and rods 37 and 38 spaced vabove the floor. TheseV downwardly projecting lugs 33,'34and 39 may be omittedif desired.

The rods are provided with downwardly lextending projections 40 to iitin longitudinal :slots 41 in the lower portions ofthe hollow leg members Vto avoid the relative rotation `of these parts, which might otherwise result in the turning ofthe-ends 39 out of Contact with the iioor.

In the use of the device, a book is represented at 42 in Figure Vl, as being in the open position and face downward lupon the glass holder 9, while such holder assumes a horizontal :position extending directly .over the pillow on whichit is assumed the patient reclines in fully supine position, looking up through the glass 9 and reading the `text of -thebook, which is presented to him through Vsuch 'transparent book holder.

The legs extend beneath the bed and give and lyield widely spaced points ofsupport; whilelthe'post risesat'the'side ofthe bed and enables the bookholder to be carried above -theibed. Thebook holder may be turned on a horizontal axis coinciding with lthe axis ofthe stem 115 and pin 26, when the pin is rengaged inthe socket 25. Thisplaneof adjustment is'indicated in Figure 3.and may be useful in supporting `the book ina `more or less vertical position with the book resting Aonthelledge "13, as Vfor .reading when-propped up fin bed `orin a substantiallysitting posture. 'lfheresiliency and friotional binding of the yoke legsupon the universalball` will retain the book holder in the adjusted position. Now the shank 27 is squareor of other straightzline coniigurationand it prevents the rotation thereabout of f'the `yoke piece.

The shank 27 is adjustable 'longitudinally 'through the square tube 24 for the purpose ofinserting and withdrawing the pin 26 from the'socketin the ball. When this-pin isfwith- `being obliged-'to assume a more erect posture.

-While the various posts, cross bars, and other partsof the frame work are shown as round in cross section, obviously these may -be made rectangular or of any desired angular 'cross section.

It is obvious vthat various `,changes and .modilications'may bemade in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, such changes and modilications being restricted only by thethe scope of the-following claim.

That is claimed is A reading stand, comprising a vbase portion adapted to rest on a support, a post ,rising from one end of'thebase portion and bent horizontally'at its upper endto provide ya fixed pin overhangingthe base portion, a

clamping member :pivotally mounted on the pin and having Vsocketed clamping jaws spaced from and extending outwardly of vthe pin, a ball disposed between `the sockets of the clamping j awsfand'havinggan opening in one side 1 to receive the :pin and hold the ball from turni-ng in the uvertical plane of kthe pin, clamping Ameans for 'binding the-jaws :against the ball to hold it when .adjusted about the axis of saidpin, a'stem carriedby :the .ball and extending outwardly vtherefrom on the axis ,of said pin, and .a supporting framemountedon the outer-end of the'stem adapted for .adjustmentgwith the Vball and stein on the axis of said pin.

HAZAEL WEST. 

